Camera



April 8, i941- s. M. CQVELL 2,237,656

CAMERA Filed Deo. 28 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR SHEA Do/v /Wl Co VELL ATTORNEY.

S.M.COVELL April 89 194L CAMERA Filed Dec. 28, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q i w \N QN mmv QW, mw

www

www

WN md. Wm. m.

INV ENT OR. S/ l/EADo/v M C0 s/l BY ATTORNEY.

S. M. QOVELL CAMERA Filed Dec. '28, 958

Q 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 S IN VENTOR. M. Co VEL S. M. COVELL,

pri 8, 194i.7

CAMERA 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed DeC. 28, 1938 Patented pr. 8, 1941 f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAMERA Sheldon M. Covell, New York, N. Y. Application December 28, 1938, Serial No. 248,058

(Cl. S35-23) 12 Claims.

'The invention relates to photographic cameras oi the type in which a roll of sensitized nlm is progressively exposed for taking successive photographs, and more particularly to that class of such cameras iniwhich a thirty-live millimeter lilm with thirty-six exposures is utilized. Under existing conditions, development and printing oi such lms is delayed until all of the exposures have been successively made, and it accordingly is extremely inconvenient to secure prints or any given picture, as for instance, the first one taken, before a given hlm has been used, unless the photographer is willing to waste the rest or" the nlm. In addition, ii the photographer desires to substitute one type oi photographic nlm for another, such as for instance color :dim for ordinarily film, it is necessary to remove one roll oi iilm from the camera and to replace the same with another roll of the nlm desired.

The invention has for its object to provide a camera of the indicated type constructed in a novel manner to overcome the aforesaid objections and to enable the photographer to develop and print individual pictures immediately or at any time subsequent to the taking thereof. The invention contemplates further the provision oi a novel nlm designed for use in the novel carnera.

Other more specific objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features or novelty will he pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an example oi the invention without denning its limits, Fig. l is a perspective view oi the novel camera in the process of being loaded; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section o the camera; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view partly in horizontal section; Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section illustrating the loading ot the camera; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view o a portion oi the operating mechanism; Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 8 6 oi Fig. 2; Fig. l is a similar view on the line 'I-'I of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section substantially on the line 8 8 of Fig. 2; Fig. 9 is a detail view oi a setting device included in the mechanism; Fig. lo is a detail view oi a releasing means forming part of said setting device; Fig. 1l is a detail perspective view showing a nlm and the nlm carrier or plate in separated relation, and Fig. l2 is a detail section showing the nlm attached to the nlm carrier or plate.

The camera in the form illustrated comprises a customary Vcasing l5 provided with the usual lens and othr features commonly found in conventional cameras, including iinders as indicated at i8. Interlorly the casing I5 may be provided with shutter tracks l1 for the accommodation of the customary shutter which operates in the well-lmown way to control the exposure opening i3 located in registry with the lens in the conventional way. To enable the common type of iilm, such as for instance, thirty-live millimeter film with thirty-six exposures, to be used in the camera, the casing l5 includes gear mechanism l 9 for operatively supporting and controlling the conventional spools on which such lms are wound, this mechanism i8 itself being actuated to progressively adjust the film relatively to the exposure opening i8 in the well-known way by means or an operating knob 2U mounted on the casing l5 so as to be exteriorly accessible as shown in Figs. l and 2. In practice the spool carrying the nlm is mounted at one end of the casing l5 interiorly thereof and is threaded along the rear faces of the shutter tracks ll or their equivalent, to a winding-up spool mounted interiorly of the casing at the other end of the casing i5. The winding-up spool is rotatively operated at will by the knob 20 to bring successive portions or the iilm into registry with the exposure opening i8 for exposure therethrough. The means whereby said successive portions of said :film are clamped or held in place at said exposure opening i8 will loe described more fully hereinafter.

In its rear wall the illustrated casing l5 is provided With an opening 2l in registry with and of somewhat larger dimensions than the exposure opening i8, said opening 2i communicating with the interior of an auxiliary casing 22; the latter is secured in place on the casing l5 preferably so as to he readily removable at will and accordingly may include lugs 23 for the accommodaldon of screws 24 whereby the removable attachment is eiected. A shaft 25 having a helical groove 25 extending lengthwise thereof is located in the lower portion of the auxiliary casing 22 and has its opposite reduced end sections 2l and 28 rotatably mounted respectively in hearing brackets 28 and 30; as shown in Fig. 2, the bracket 29 is fastened to the one end Wall of the auxiliary casing 22 and the bracket 30 is secured upon the bottom thereof and includes a bearing sleeve 3l through which the end section 28 of the shalt 25 extends. The projecting portion of said section 28 carries a pinion 32 which meshes with a gear 33 forming part of a spring motor, consisting of a casing 34 carried by a pin 35 fixed upon the opposite end wall of the auxiliary casing 22. The spring motor further includes a coil spring 36 having one end fastened to the pin and its other end secured to the casing 34; it willbe understood that the gear 33 and casing 34 aire arranged to rotate as a unit on the pin 35 in one direction to wind the spring 36 and in the other direction by the action of said spring 36 as will appear more fully hereinafter.

A carrier or nut 31 is mounted on the shaft 25 and includes a pin 38 which projects into the helical groove 26 and in co-operation therewith serves to shift said carrier or nut 3.1 lengthwise of said shaft 25 as the latter is rotated on its axis in one direction or the other. To maintain the carrier or nut 31 against rotation with the shaft 25, said carrier 31 carries a second pin 39 which projects radially outward vtherefrom into a grooved guideway 40 fixed upon the bottom of the auxiliary casing 22 as illustrated in Fig. 2; near its left hand end in Fig. 2 the guideway 40 is interrupted as indicated at 4|, in Fig. '1 to enable the second pin 39 to move transversely out of said guideway 48 and thereby permit the carrier or nut 31 to rotate With said shaft 25 in one direction for the purpose to be more fully set forth hereinafter.

An arm or member 42 projects radially upward from the carrier or nut 31 and at its upper end is pivotally connected at 43 with a lug 44 which extends outwardly from a lm carrier 45; a leaf spring 46 fixed on the arm 42 in engagement with a projection 41 forming part of the lug 44 yieldingly maintains the film carrier 45 in predeter' mined operative relation to said arm 42 through'. out the operative range of the latter. 'I'he film carrier 45 includes a slot 48 having an open entry end at the right hand side thereof and terminating in a closed end at an intermediate point of said carrier 45 as shownin Fig. 2, and is further provided with spaced parallel anges 49 located along the opposite longitudinal edges of said slot 48 and projecting outwardly from the carrier 45 as illustrated in Figs. 2, 6 and 7. The one flange 49, for instance the upper one in Fig. 2 is shorter than the other flange 49, and both of said flanges terminate at a distance from the closed end of said slot 48 for the purpose to be more fully set forth hereinafter. 'I'he shorter, or specifically the upper flange 49, carries a resilient catch or detent 50 which extends beyond said flange 49 as shown in Fig. 2.

In the novel arrangement, each individual lm 5| is mounted upon a lm plate 52 in surface engagement therewith in any convenient manner so as to be readily removable at will; for instance said film 5| preferably being formed at one end with a tab 53 which is centrally located at said one end, and at the opposite end is provided with a similar tab 54 located in off-set ,relation to the tab 53. To receive the tabs 53 and 54 and thereby attach the film 5| to the lm plate 52, the latter is provided with properly located slots 538L and 54a; to facilitate introduction into the slots 53a and 54a and to avoid flexing the lm 5| on the plate 52the tabs 53 and 54 may be shaped as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. In addition to their other functions, the tabs 53 and 54 serve also to facilitate handling of the film 5|. On its outer surface the film plate 52 carries an outwardly projecting lug 55 preferably flaring outwardly as indicated at 56.

Suitable means is provided for locking the shaft 25 against rotation and for releasing said shaft 25 at the proper moment to permit the nut 31 and its associated parts to be shifted lengthwise "'after.

internal diameter to permit the carrier or nut thereof in the operation of the camera. In the illustrated example, the aforesaid means comprises a clutch member 61 fixed upon the shaft 25, and a co-operating clutch member 58 slidable into and out of operative connection with the clutch member 61. To lock the clutch member 58 against operation when in engagement with the clutch member 51, the member 58 is keyed upon a sleeve 69 for slidable movement thereon and to rotate therewith, said sleeve 59 as shown in Fig. 5 being loosely mounted on the end section 21 of the shaft 25 and forming part of a bevel gear 68. The latter meshes with an associate bevel gear 6| combined with a pinion 6|=L suitably journalled in the auxiliary casing 22 for instance as shown in Fig. 5; the pinion Sla in turn `meshes with an associate pinion 62a carried by an upright shaft 62 rotatably mounted in the auxiliary casing 22 and provided at its upper end with a pinion 63 meshing with the mechanism I9. With this arrangement the clutch members 51 and 58 when in operative engagement, are locked against rotation by the bevel gears 66, 6|, the pinions 6|H=and 62a, the upright shaft 62 and the pinion 63 in co-operation with the mechanism I9, and thereby lock the shaft 25 against relative rotation on its axis; at the same time, the aforesaid mechanical means may be operated by means of the knob 20 to manually rotate the shaft 25 for the purpose to be more fully described hereinafter.

The clutch member 58 is automatically disengaged from the clutch member 51, as will hereinafter be more fully pointed out, and accordingly is provided with a circumferential groove 64 for the accommodation of pins 65 carried bya forked member 66 pivoted at 51 upon a bracket 68 suitably xed in position interiorly of the auxiliary casing 22. The forked member 66 is provided with a lug or tooth 69 located in the path of a pin 18 carried by a lever 1| also pivoted at 61 on said bracket 68; it will be understood that although the forked member 66 and the lever 1| have the common pivot 61, said lever 1| is pivotally movable in one direction independently of the member 66 and in the opposite direction actuates the latter through the engagement of the pin 10 with the lug or tooth 69. In order to maintain the parts in operative association with each other, a coil spring 12 may be mounted on the pivot 61 between the head of the latter and lever 1| as shown in Fig. 8; the spring 12 serves also to return the lever 1| to its normal position with the pin 10 in contact with the lug or tooth 69 and to maintain it in said normal position. The lever 1| extends upwardly from the pivot 61 and has its upper end in the path of a projection 13 depending from the lug 55. The clutch member 58 is further controlled by a tripping slide 14 mounted on the bottom of the guideway 40 and having a fork 15 at its one end which extends into the circumferential groove 64 and at its other end with an upright fork 16 which projects into the path of an annular shoulder y11 formed at an intermediate point of the carrier or nut 31.

A torsion spring 18 surrounds the shaft 25 adjacent the bearing bracket 30 and has its one end secured theretoQthe other free end of said spring 18 being in engagement with a projection 19 fixed upon said bracket 36 as illustrated in Fig. 2, the arrangement being such that the spring 18 is held under a torsionalftension for the Purpose whichl xwilhhe pointed out herein- The spring 18 is suiciently large in 31 to pass through the same into engagement with the bearing bracket 3l, as shown in Fig. 2; the carrier or nut 31 carries an upright projection 80 arranged to engagethe free end of the spring 18 at certain stages in the operation of the camera.

Each lm 5| and its associated film plate 52 are contained in a magazine 8| with the iilm plate 52 in interior surface engagement with one wall of the magazine 8| and covering a slot 82 extending longitudinally of said wall from an'intermediate point of said plate 52 to the forward edge of said magazine wall as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; the lm 5| carried by the plate 52 is located on the inside of the magazine 8| preferably in surface contact with a lining 83 of soft material such as velvet or the like. The lug 55 of the illm plate 52 projects outwardly through the slot 82 of the magazine 8| and initially is located at the inner closed end of said slot 82 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The forward end of the magazine 8| is open and Vnormally is closed by means of a cover 8l hinged at 85 on the magazine 8| and controlled by a suitable spring 86 in a manner to maintain said cover 84 in its closed position and to return it thereto. At a suitable point the cover M is provided with a lug or projection 81 which extends beyond the hinge connection 85 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. To lock the film plate 52 and the iilm 5| carried thereby against unintentional displacement in or removal from the magazine 8|, the latter is provided with a latch member 88 having an inclined slot 83 for the accommodation of a pin 90 on the magazine. The latch member 88 has a hook 9| at its free end, and at its other end is pivotally connected at S2 with a cap 93 movably fitted over the rear end of the magazine 8| as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4; co-operating pins 94 and slots 55 limit the outward movements of the cap 83 relatively to the magazine.

In the normal condition of the loaded magazine 8|, the hook 9| of the member 8B projects over and in front of the lug 55 as shown in Fig. l, and thereby locks the lm plate 52 and film 5| in the magazine 8|; at the same time, the cover 84 is in its closed position so that said iilm 5I is fully protected against light, it being understood that the parts are arranged and constructed to make the magazine 8| absolutely light proof. Y

To enable successive magazines 8| to be introduced into the camera, the auxiliary casing 22 is provided in its one end wall with an opening $6 so dimensioned that the magazine 3| will snugly fit the same to provide a light-proof fit. At its one side the opening 96 is recessed as illustrated at 91 for the passage of the lug 55 into the interior of said auxiliary casingA 22 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4; the opposite side of the opening 96 is recessed at $8 to provide an entry for the projection 81 of the cover 8l into a channel 99 extending lengthwise of the inner wall oi the auxiliary casing 22 in registry with said recess 98 as illustrated in Fig. 1. The channel 89 at its exit end portion within the casing 22 is of reduced depth to thereby form a shoulder |00 at an intermediate point of said channel 99 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. To guide the movement of each magazine 8| into the auxiliary casing 22 and to properly support said magazine 8| in its fully inserted position therein, channelled guide flanges |0| are located on the inner wall of the auxiliary casing 22 in spaced parallel relation and in registry respectively with the upper and lower edges of the opening S5 asillustrated in Fig. 2.

To enable the novel camera to be adjusted at will for use with the conventional rolls of lm, a manually operated setting device is vprovided preferably on the bottom wall of the auxiliary casing 22. In its illustrated form the setting device includes a releasing means comprising a slide |02 mounted in a bearing |03 iixed upon the bottom wall of the auxiliary casing 22 and provided at one end with a depending fingerpiece |04 movable in a slot |05 in said bottom wall so as to be exteriorly accessible when operation thereof is desired. At its other end the slide |02 carries a cylinder |06 in which a. releasing plunger |01 is slidably mounted, said plunger |01 projecting outwardly beyond the opposite ends of Vsaid cylinder |06 as shown in Fig. i0. Interiorly of the cylinder |06 the plunger |01 carries a collar |08 and a coil spring |05 located between and in engagement respectively with said collar |08 and the one end wall of said cylinder |06. For co-operation with the plunger |01, in the manner to be more fully explained hereinafter, the slide 02Y and its cylinder |06 are shifted at will by means of the nger-piece 104, to move the plunger |01 into the path of the second pin 39 which depends from the carrier or nut 31.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and '2, the parts are in the position occupied therebyl when a given nlm `5| is clamped in registry with the exposurevopening i 8 of the camera; for purpose of description, it will be assumed that the particular lm 5| has been exposed by the photographer in the opera.- tion of taking a picture and that the exposed im 5| is ready to be returned to the magazine located in the auxiliary casing 22 at the right hand side thereof in Figs. 2 and 3.

To eect this return, the knob 20 is manually rotated to correspondingly rotate the upright shaft 62 and its pinion 62B to .thereby transmit rotary motion -to the associated pinion 6| and bevel gear 6| and thus rotativeiy actuate the bevel'gear 60 and clutch member 58 which at this stage is in operative connection with the co-operating clutch member 51 fixed on the reduced end section 21 of the shaft 25; as a result of these operations, the latter is rotated in its bearings 28 and 30. The operations described are such that the aforesaid rotation of the shaft 25 will be in a. direction against the operating tension of the spring motor, the spring 3 6 of whichaccordingly-will be rewound. Because of the fact that at this stage, the Second pin 3S of the carrier or nut 31 is out of the grooved guideway 40 as illus- .trated in Figs. 2 and 7, no resistance will be developed against the rotation of said carrier or nut 31 about its axis; the pin 38 which projects into the helical groove 26 acting as a. key accordingly causes the carrier or nut 31 to rotate with the shaft 25 until the second pin 39 engages and is stopped by the one wall of the grooved guideway I0. The describedv rotation of the carrier or nut 31 with the shaft 25 is assisted by the torsion spring 18 acting on lthe pin 80 and carries with it the arm or member I2 and swings the latter toward the left in Fig. 7 whereby the nlm carrier 45, the film plate 52 and the lm 5| carried thereby are correspondingly shifted to a position in which the arm or member 42 is in upright vertical relation to the shaft 25, and .the second pin 39 of the carrier or nut 31 is back in the grooved guideway 40. As a result further rotation of the carrier or nut 31 with the shaft 25 is arrested and continued rotation oi .the latter in its bearings 29 and 30 will now be relative to said carrier 0r nut 31; through the co-operation of the pin 88 with the helical groove 26 this continued relative rotation of the shaft 25 will cause said carrier or nut 314 to travel lengthwise of said shaft 25 toward the right in Figs. 2 and 3.

The arm or member 42 with the film carrier 45, film plate 52 and the fllm 5| are carried toward the magazine 8| along with the carrier or nut 31 in this movement toward the right. As the curved edge 45 of the lm carrier` 45 finally contacts with the open end of Ithe magazine 8|, the film carrier 45 and the nlm plate 52 will be separated so that as the movement of the parts to the right continues, the film carrier 45 will move along the magazine 8| in external surface contact therewith, and the film plate 52 and the film carried thereby will correspondingly move through the open end of the magazine 8| into the interior thereof. During these -movements the lug 55 of the lm plate 52 will travel lengthwise of the slot 82 of said magazine 8| until the inner closed end of said slot is reached as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2; in this position of the parts, in which the exposed lm 5| is contained within vthe magazine 8|, the projection 13 depending from the lug 55 is contiguous to the upper end of the lever 1| as shown in Fig. 2.

The magazine 8| in which the exposed film 5| is now contained may now be Aremoved from the camera by exerting a pull toward the right upon the cap 93 in Figs. 2 and 3. This/causes said cap 93 to move relatively to the magazine 8| to the extent permitted by the pins 94 and slots 95 and accordingly developes a pull toward the right upon the latch member 88; this will cause the pin 90 to exert a camming action on the slot 89 of said member 88 whereby the hook 9| is forced downwardly into locking engagement with the lug 55, and the film plate 52 and film 5| are locked against unintentional displacement relatively to the magazine 8|. As the withdrawal of the latter from the auxiliary casing 22 continues, the projection 81 of the cover 84 will be shifted into the deepest portion of the guide channel 99 and said cover 84 will be adjusted to its closed position by the spring 85; thus when the magazine 8| is fully withdrawn from the camera, said magazine 8| will be sealed against the entrance of light and the exposed film 5| therein will be protected against being light struck or otherwise harmed. It will be understood, as the magazine 8| is withdrawn from the auxiliary casing 22, that the lug 55 will force the detent 59 upwardly to an inoperative position to permit said lug 55 to move along and out of the slot 48 of the nlm carrier 45. As this takes place, the projection 13 depending from said lug 55 will engage the lever 1| and swing it to the dotted line position in Fig. 2 and then pass out of the camera with said magazine 8|. -When the projection 13 has passed beyond the lever 1|, the latter by the action of the spring 12 will immediately be restored to its normal operative position with the pin in contact with the lug 69 as shown by full lines in Fig. 2.

The exposed film 5| in the magazine 8| may be removed therefrom in a dark room or other suitable place for development and printing at the will of the operator. The particular magazine 8| may then be reloaded with a new unexposed film 5| xed upon the film plate 52, for re-insertion into the camera, or another magazine 8|l with a film 5| therein may be inserted into the auxiliary casing 22; in any event, the operation of reloading the camera may proceed as follows:

The loaded magazine 8| with the cover 84 closed and the other parts in their normal positions is inserted into the opening 96 with the projection 81 in registry with the entering recess 98 of the channel 99 and the lug 55 in registry with the recess 91. 'I'he magazine 8| is then advanced through said opening 96 by exerting a puslr upon the cap 93; this causes the latter to initially move relatively to the magazine 8| toward the left in Fig. 1 and thereby correspondingly moves the latch member 88 and causes the pin 90 by acting on the slot 89 to lift the hook 9| thereof to release the lug 55 fromrestraint. As the insertion proceeds by continued pressure on the cap 93, the top and bottom of the magazine 8| will travel along the guide flanges |0| and the projection 81 of the cover 84 will pass along the deepest portion of the channel 99; meanwhile the lug 55 will pass into and along the slot 48 and between the flanges 49 of the lm carrier 45 which at this Stage is located at the right hand portion of the auxiliary casing 22.

As the movement of the magazine 8| into the auxiliary casing 22 continues, the projection 81 will nnally engage the shoulder |00 in the channel 89 and the cover 84 of said magazine 8| will be swung to its open position against the tension of the spring 85. The aforesaid inward movement will finally bring the cap 93 into engagement with the end wall of the auxiliary casing 22 at which position in the camera. In substantial coincidence with completion of the insertion of the magazine 8| into the camera, the detent 50 will snap in front of the lug 55 to lock the lm plate 52 and film 5| in operative connection with the film carrier 45, and the projection 13 of said lug 55 will swing the lever 1| to the left in Fig. 2. By the action of the pin 10 on the lug 69 the fork 66 will thereby be pivotally actuated to shift the clutch member 58 away from the clutch member 51 and to thus release the shaft 25 from restraint.

' As this occurs, the spring 36 of the spring motor will actuate the gearing 33-32 to rotate the shaft 25 in a direction to cause its helical groove 25 in co-operation with the pin 38 to shift the carrier or nut 31 lengthwise of said shaft 25 toward the left in Figs. 2 and 3 until said carrier or nut 31 engages the bearing 30 and projects into the torsion spring 18, as illustrated in Fig. 2. At this stage, the pin 89 of said carrier or nut 31 is 1ocated in engagement with the free end of said torsion spring 18 and further movement of said carrier or nut 31 along said shaft 25 toward the left is arrested, with the second pin 39 in registry with the interruption 4| of the grooved guideway 40. Continued rotation of the shaft 25 under the influence of the motor spring 35 will accordingly cause the carrier or nut 31, by the action of its pin 38 and the helical groove 26, to be correspondingly rotated and thereby swing the arm or member 42 from its upright position to the inclined position illustrated in Fig. 7. This operation will correspondingly shift the film carrier 45 and film y to their former positions subsequent to the exposure of the film for picture taking purposes. The described movement of the carrier or nut 31 along the shaft 25 toward the left brings the shoulder 11 into engagement with Ythe forked After the exposure of the given film 5|, which may be made in the conventional manner at the will of the photographer, the mechanism may be operated by the knob 20 in the manner previously described, to return the exposed film 5| to its magazine 8| preparatory to its removal from the camera.

To enable the operator to load the magazine 8| in the dark, a projection 93n may be formed on an external surface of thecap 93 which indicates the bottom portion of said magazine 8|; by feeling for said projection 93*1 the correct position of the magazine for loading may -be accurately determined even in the dark. The previously mentioned tabs 53 and 54 being out of registry with each other correspondingly indicate the correct position of the film 5| for introduction into the magazine 8| and accordingly make it readily possible to accurately load the latter in a dim light or even in complete darkness.

If it is desired to utilize the illustrated camera with a conventional roll of film, the latter is placed in position and threaded into operative position behind the shutter tracks l1 or their equivalent in the customary way; by suitably operating the knob 20 and its associated mechanism, the first sensitive section of the film is adjusted into registry with the exposure opening I8 ready for exposure at the will of the photographer. Previously to this, the finger-piece |04 is shifted in the slot |05 to the right in Fig. 8 to thereby bring the plunger |01 into registry with the forked member located at one end of the slide 14 and into the path of the pin 39 depending from the carrier or nut 31.

With they parts thus adjusted, an operation of the knob to bring a sensitive section of the film into registry with the exposure opening I8 will rotate the shaft in a direction to initially rotate the carrier or nut 31 therewith and thereby shift the arm or member 42 to an erect position and with it the film carrier 45 and to subsequently move said carrier or nut 31 and its associated parts lengthwise of said shaft 25 to the right in Figs. 2 and 3 in the same Way as previously set forth herein. In this Way, the pin 39 will finally engage the plunger |01 and shift it against the tension of the spring |09 in the cylinder |06 to thereby develop a pressure against the forked member 15; the latter is thus moved to the right and shifts the clutch member 58 away from and out of engagement with the clutch member 51. This causes the shaft 25 to be released from restraint and permits the motor spring 36 to rotate said shaft 25 and shift the carrier or nut 31 lengthwise thereof until the I bearing 30 arrests this movement, whereupon the carrier or nut 31 is rotated with the shaft 25 to swing the arm or member 42 in the manner previously described and to cause the film carrier 45 to clamp the selected sensitive section of the film against the shutter tracks l1 or their equivalent, in registry with the exposure opening ready for exposure therethrough. As the carrier or nut 31 moves along the shaft 25 to the left, the plunger |01 will be restored by the spring |09 to its normal position in the cylinder |06 and away from the forked member 15. In the same Way as previously described herein, the shoulder 11 of the carrier or nut 31 as the latter travels to the left along the shaft 25 will eventually engage the forked member 16 and move the slide 14 in a direction to c-ause the forked member 15 to shift the clutch member 58 back into connection with the clutch member 51; when this has been done, the mechanism is set and ready for shifting another sensitized section of the'film into position for exposure and for repeating the aforesaid operation of the parts. When the roll of film has been exposed to the desired extent either entirely or otherwise, it is wound up in the conventional way and removed from the camera for development and printing in the customary manner.

The novel camera is simple in construction and operation, and may be efficiently utilizedin connection with successive individual lms capable of being independently developed and printed at the will of the photographer, or with the conventional films, as for instance thirtyfive millimeter films each having thirty-six exposures. In either case, the camera requires no particular skill in its operation other than that necessary to produce satisfactory photographs with any type of camera. When the individual' films 5| are used in the camera, each film 5| subsequent to its exposure in the camera may be removed therefrom for development and printing at the will of the photographer and without waiting for any other films to be exposed. Copies of any particular photograph may accordingly be had immediately after the exposure of the particular film or in other Words, as soon as the latter can be developed and printed.

In addition, the novel camera enables the photographer to easily and quickly substitute one type of photographic film for another; for instance, an ordinary film may be replaced by a color film or any other different type of film at the 'will of the operator.

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be made within thescope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a photographic camera, the combination of a casing having an exposure opening, means whereby the sensitized sections of a ribbon of photographic lm may be adjusted into exposure registry with said exposure opening, and means whereby separate individual films may be conveyed into exposure registry with said exposure opening, said means being capable of selective use independently of each other.

2. In a photographic camera comprising a casing having an exposure opening, the combination of means for conveying independent sensitized films in said casing into registry with said exposure opening and for clamping each film in exposure registry therewith, and for immediately shifting each film in said casing away from said exposure opening at the completion of its exposurel therethrough for removal from said camera.

3. In a photographic camera comprising a casing having an exposure opening, the combination of a magazine designed to receive and contain a single sensitized lm, said magazine and its contained single film being removably mounted in said casing, and means for withdrawing said film from said magazine and transferring it therefrom within said casing into registry with said exposure opening for exposure therethrough.

4. In a photographic camera comprising a casing having an exposure opening, the combination of a magazine designed to receive and contain a single sensitized film, said magazine and its'contained single film being removably mounted in said casing, and means for removing said lm from said magazine, transferring the removed film within said casing into registry with said exposure opening for exposure therethrough, and returning the exposed lm into said magazine at the completion of its exposure.

5. In a photographic camera comprising a casing having an exposure opening, the combination of a magazine removably inserted into said casing and containing an individual sensitized film designed for a single exposure, and means for withdrawing said lm from said magazine, transferring said withdrawn film within said casing into clamped registry with said exposure opening for exposure therethrough and for returningv said individual lm subsequent to exposure to said magazine for removal therewith from said camera.

6. In a photographic camera comprising a main casing having an exposure opening and an opening in its rear wall in registry therewith. the combination of an auxiliary casing mounted on said rear wall of said main casing in interior communication with the rear wall opening thereof and itself having a magazine opening in its one end wall, guide flanges located within said auxiliary casing in registry with the upper and lower edges respectively of said magazine opening, an operating shaft journalled in said auxiliary casing and provided with a helical groove extending lengthwise thereof, a spring motor operatively connected with said shaft for rotating it in one direction, a c'arrier on said -shaft, a pin on said carrier projecting into said helical groove, a member extending upwardly from said carrier, a lm carrier pivotally connetted with said member and supported thereby, a clutch member xed on said shaft, a cooperating clutch member loosely and slidably mounted on said shaft, mechanism operatively connected with said co-operating clutch member for locking said shaft against operation by the spring motor and for operating said shaft in opposition to said spring motor when said clutch members are in connection with each other to shift said carrier and film carrier toward said magazine opening, releasing means for disengaging said co-operating clutch member from the associated clutch member, a magazine containing a lm plate -and a lm mounted thereon, said magazine extending through said magazine opening into said auxiliary casing and being maintained in place therein by said guide flanges, means whereby said lm plate and film carrier are automatically coupled together as the latter is moved toward said magazine opening,

and means on said film carrier for operating said releasing means to disengage said clutch members whereby said shaft is rotated by said spring motor to shift said carrier and film carrier with the film plate and film thereon into registry with said exposure opening.

A 7. In a photographic camera including an exposure opening, the combination of a magazine in said camera containing a single sensitized film,

an operating shaft located within said camera and having a helical groove extending lengthwise thereof, a spring motor for operating said shaft .in one direction, a carrier on said shaft, a key on said carrier projecting into said helical groove, a supporting member mounted on said carrier, mechanism including co-operating clutch members for locking said shaft against operation by said spring motor and for rotating said shaft in opposition to said spring motor to shift said carrier and supporting member into operative relation to said magazine, co-operating means on said magazine and supporting member for au- ,hinged cover at one end of said magazine for closing said end, a spring whereby said cover is maintained in and returned to its closed position, co-operating means on said cover and camera effective interiorly of the latter whereby said cover is adjusted to its open position as said magazine is inserted into the camera, and mechanism whereby said single film is removed from said magazine and transferred into registry with said exposure opening and clamped in place thereat.

9. In a photographic camera comprising a casing having an exposure opening, the combination of a magazine located within said casing in spaced relation to said exposure opening, a film plate removably mounted in said magazine and carrying a single sensitized film, conveying means, co-operating devices'on said lm plate and said conveying means for automatically connecting said film plate with said conveying means, one actuating means for operating the conveying means in one direction for shifting said film plate out of said magazine and within .said casing to adjust the lm carried by said film plate into registry with said exposure opening for photographic exposure therethrough, and another actuating means for operating said conveying means in a reverser' direction to return said film plate and the film carried thereby into said magazine'subsequent to the photographic exposure of said film.

1G. In a photographic camera comprising a casing having an exposure opening, the combination of a magazine located withinsaid casing in spaced relation to said exposure opening, a lm plate removably mounted in said magazine and carrying a single sensitized film, motor actuated means operable in one direction to shift said film plate out of said magazine and within said casing to adjust the film carried by said lm plate into registry with said exposure opening for photographic exposure therethrough, and manually operated means for operating said motor actuated means in a reverse direction for returning said film plate and the film carried thereby into said magazine subsequent to the photographic exposure of said lm.

l1. In a photographic l camera comprising a casing having an exposure opening, the combination of a magazine located within said casing in spaced relation to said exposure opening, a lm plate removably mounted in said magazine and carrying a single sensitized lm, conveying means, a spring motor for operating said conveying means in one direction to shift said lm plate out of said magazine andwithin said casing to adjust the lm carried by said illm plate into registry with said exposure opening for photographic exposure therethrough, and meansy for operating said conveying means in a reverse direction to return said film plate and the lm carried thereby into said magazine subsequent to the photographic exposure of said lm and for coincidentally rewinding said spring motor.

12. In a photographic camera comprising a casing having an exposure opening, the combination of a magazine located within said casing in spaced relation to said exposure opening and provided with a slot open in a direction toward 20 said exposure opening, a lm plate removably mounted in said magazine and carrying a single sensitized lm, a lug on said lm plate projecting outwardly therefrom through said slot, a illm carrier having a slot open in opposed relation to the sloi-l of said magazine arranged to receive the lug of said film plate, a detent on said illm carrier arranged to engage said lug whereby said illm plate and film carrier are coupled together, operating means whereby said lm carrier is shifted in said casing to withdraw said film plate and the illln carried thereby from said magazine and to adjust said lm into registry with said exposure opening for photographic exposure therethrough, and means whereby said operating means is actuated to shift said film carrier in said casing in a manner to return said lm plate and the lm carried thereby into said magazine subsequent to the exposure of said film.

SHELDON M. COVELL. 

